Willie Coffey MSP

That the Parliament congratulates the Kilmarnock photographer, Lynne Harper, on winning several awards recently at the prestigious Guild of Photographer awards, including the highly-coveted overall photographer of the year award for 2019; recognises that the Guild runs an image of the month competition that has received over 13,000 entries in 2019; further recognises that these entries are then scored, with each individual receiving a yearly total score to determine who wins the individual genre groups and also the photographer of the year accolade; acknowledges that Lynne is one of only a few Guild members from Ayrshire and has only competed at this high level for four years; recognises that Lynne also won first place in the maternity genre and the newborn and baby genre, runner-up in the people genre, winner of the image of the year competition in the newborn category and runner-up in the children’s portraiture category; further congratulates Lynne on this outstanding achievement, and wishes her continued success in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates the Kilmarnock photographer, Lynne Harper, on winning several awards recently at the prestigious Guild of Photographer awards, including the highly-coveted overall photographer of the year award for 2019; recognises that the Guild runs an image of the month competition that has received over 13,000 entries in 2019; further recognises that these entries are then scored, with each individual receiving a yearly total score to determine who wins the individual genre groups and also the photographer of the year accolade; acknowledges that Lynne is one of only a few Guild members from Ayrshire and has only competed at this high level for four years; recognises that Lynne also won first place in the maternity genre and the newborn and baby genre, runner-up in the people genre, winner of the image of the year competition in the newborn category and runner-up in the children’s portraiture category; further congratulates Lynne on this outstanding achievement, and wishes her continued success in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Onthank Primary School in Kilmarnock, on successfully achieving Eco-Schools Green Flag Award status; recognises that this Green Flag award is an internationally recognised achievement for schools and nurseries committed to learning for sustainability; understands that Eco-Schools is the largest sustainable schools programme in the world with 19.5 million children, young people and educators engaged in 67 different countries; understands that Onthank Primary School impressed the Eco-Schools assessor with the amazing work carried out over the past two years with their chosen topics of litter, transport and waste minimisation, which the school, community, parents and the surrounding community were involved with through various activities; commends everyone involved in this fantastic achievement, and wishes them further success continuing Eco-Schools work.

That the Parliament congratulates Onthank Primary School in Kilmarnock, on successfully achieving Eco-Schools Green Flag Award status; recognises that this Green Flag award is an internationally recognised achievement for schools and nurseries committed to learning for sustainability; understands that Eco-Schools is the largest sustainable schools programme in the world with 19.5 million children, young people and educators engaged in 67 different countries; understands that Onthank Primary School impressed the Eco-Schools assessor with the amazing work carried out over the past two years with their chosen topics of litter, transport and waste minimisation, which the school, community, parents and the surrounding community were involved with through various activities; commends everyone involved in this fantastic achievement, and wishes them further success continuing Eco-Schools work.

That the Parliament congratulates Kieran McMaster, a sports mentor with East Ayrshire Council and a coach at the North West Amateur Boxing Club in Kilmarnock, on being named sportscotland Young Coach of the Year at the Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards 2019, which were held at Glasgow City Chambers; recognises that 15 winners were selected from more than 350 nominations covering 47 sports and 32 local authorities; further recognises that Kieran, who is an accomplished boxer, works tirelessly to help the next generation of boxers in his community; acknowledges that Kieran has worked with some of the most vulnerable young people in East Ayrshire, using boxing as a tool to build meaningful bonds to allow challenging conversations to take place on topics such as mental health, drugs and alcohol; further acknowledges that these relationships have seen the young people that he mentors flourish, not only in the boxing ring but, for many, attendance at school has also increased; commends Kieran on this fantastic achievement, and wishes him further success in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Kieran McMaster, a sports mentor with East Ayrshire Council and a coach at the North West Amateur Boxing Club in Kilmarnock, on being named sportscotland Young Coach of the Year at the Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards 2019, which were held at Glasgow City Chambers; recognises that 15 winners were selected from more than 350 nominations covering 47 sports and 32 local authorities; further recognises that Kieran, who is an accomplished boxer, works tirelessly to help the next generation of boxers in his community; acknowledges that Kieran has worked with some of the most vulnerable young people in East Ayrshire, using boxing as a tool to build meaningful bonds to allow challenging conversations to take place on topics such as mental health, drugs and alcohol; further acknowledges that these relationships have seen the young people that he mentors flourish, not only in the boxing ring but, for many, attendance at school has also increased; commends Kieran on this fantastic achievement, and wishes him further success in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Flowers by Karen in Kilmarnock on winning the prestigious UK Retail Florist of the Year award; further recognises that Flowers by Karen is the first Scottish florist to win this fantastic award; commends Flowers by Karen on this fabulous achievement, and wishes everyone involved further success in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Flowers by Karen in Kilmarnock on winning the prestigious UK Retail Florist of the Year award; further recognises that Flowers by Karen is the first Scottish florist to win this fantastic award; commends Flowers by Karen on this fabulous achievement, and wishes everyone involved further success in the future.

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of Barclays’ new economic growth initiative, Thriving Local Economies, in Kilmarnock on 11 June 2019; understands that the bank is to join forces with local government, business and education leaders to identify how to boost the local economy through a landmark study and over a three-year period, and introduce bespoke programmes and support designed to help business growth, skills and training and aspirations and confidence; notes that Kilmarnock has been specifically chosen for the pilot due to Barclays’ research, which shows that around only three in ten (28%) businesses in Kilmarnock feel optimistic about the local economy; understands that this follows on from another major investment announced by Barclays in Scotland recently that the bank will create 2,500 new jobs at its new technology centre in Glasgow; further understands that, as a first step of the Thriving Local Economies initiative, all secondary schools in Kilmarnock will have access to the bank’s LifeSkills programme, which aims to equip people with the skills that they need for the world of work, and commends Barclays for introducing bespoke actions for the people of Kilmarnock to boost aspirations and future work skills in the local community.

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of Barclays’ new economic growth initiative, Thriving Local Economies, in Kilmarnock on 11 June 2019; understands that the bank is to join forces with local government, business and education leaders to identify how to boost the local economy through a landmark study and over a three-year period, and introduce bespoke programmes and support designed to help business growth, skills and training and aspirations and confidence; notes that Kilmarnock has been specifically chosen for the pilot due to Barclays’ research, which shows that around only three in ten (28%) businesses in Kilmarnock feel optimistic about the local economy; understands that this follows on from another major investment announced by Barclays in Scotland recently that the bank will create 2,500 new jobs at its new technology centre in Glasgow; further understands that, as a first step of the Thriving Local Economies initiative, all secondary schools in Kilmarnock will have access to the bank’s LifeSkills programme, which aims to equip people with the skills that they need for the world of work, and commends Barclays for introducing bespoke actions for the people of Kilmarnock to boost aspirations and future work skills in the local community.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how construction sites could reopen safely in order to allow its Affordable Housing Supply Programme to resume.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how construction sites could reopen safely in order to allow its Affordable Housing Supply Programme to resume.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on future arrangements for the Erasmus+ programme for Scottish and European students.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on future arrangements for the Erasmus+ programme for Scottish and European students.

To ask the Scottish Government whether obesity rates in school-age children are reducing and what measures are being considered to make further progress.

To ask the Scottish Government whether obesity rates in school-age children are reducing and what measures are being considered to make further progress.

To ask the Scottish Government what the greatest challenges are in Scotland in tackling the climate emergency.

To ask the Scottish Government what the greatest challenges are in Scotland in tackling the climate emergency.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress being made to resolve the reported long-standing and escalating traffic flow issues at the Bellfield interchange in Kilmarnock.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress being made to resolve the reported long-standing and escalating traffic flow issues at the Bellfield interchange in Kilmarnock.